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Lucy Gaygusuz, Trustee at Open Door, tells Rob Pearman about the plans to help and then keep local rough sleepers off the streets for the second Covid winter. This year - as last year - the project involves Open Door, Centre 33, Hightown Housing, Emmaus and the District Council and this year with the additional support of Morgan Sindall. This year, the project needs more volunteers to help manage and support the special cabins located at Emmaus St Albans where those without a warm place for the night will be protected from the cold and rain and Covid. Can you volunteer?
Lucy Gaygusuz, Trustee at Open Door, tells Rob Pearman about the plans to help and then keep local rough sleepers off the streets for the second Covid winter. This year - as last year - the project involves Open Door, Centre 33, Hightown Housing, Emmaus and the District Council and this year with the additional [...]
John Mulholland, Trustee and Warehouse Manager at St Albans & District Foodbank, explains to Rob Pearman how the service works, how much it has increased over recent years (it now has six distribution points), and how the combination of increasing prices, the ending of the Covid uptick to Universal Credit and of the furlough scheme, plus announced increases in National Insurance may add to local requests for assistance - just at a time when the Foodbank has to move out of its current premises and find a new distribution warehouse by mid-November. If you know of a suitable site, please contact warehouse@stalbans.foodbank.org.uk urgently. (Local Life - Sundays 8-9am and 6-7pm; Wednesdays 7-8pm.)
John Mulholland, Trustee and Warehouse Manager at St Albans & District Foodbank, explains to Rob Pearman how the service works, how much it has increased over recent years (it now has six distribution points), and how the combination of increasing prices, the ending of the Covid uptick to Universal Credit and of the furlough scheme, [...]
Stacey Turner, founder of the local mental health charity It's OK to Say started to plan ways to help newly arrived evacuees from Kabul who were facing the trauma of their unplanned exit from their homeland . She soon realised that many of them - having left Afghanistan in haste - had very real immediate needs for clothing and other essential items. Stacey and her colleagues set up collection points around the city and within a matter of days local people had responded so overwhelmingly that they had to pause the programme - and also to ask for luggage (suitcases, backpacks etc) so that the evacuees could move on with their new belongings. She explained how it came about and how it succeeded in this interview with Rob Pearman on Local Life.
One of a series of publications by the British Library, 'Crawling Horror - Creeping Tales of the Insect Weird' is edited by Daisy Butcher and Janette Leaf, respectively postgraduate researchers at Hertfordshire University and Birkbeck, University of London. They have searched the archives for 19th and 20th century tales about insects - some good, some bad. Some by men such as HG Wells and Edgar Allen Poe, others introducing previously overlooked women writers. In this extended version of an interview with Rob Pearman on Local Life, Janette and Daisy explain and illustrate this strange world - with recorded excerpts from three of the fascinating tales.
Local Life welcomed Robert Naylor-Stables, current Play Director at one of the District's best known amateur dramatic societies. Rob Pearman asked him to tell us what they've achieved over the past 75 years, what they see as their contribution to the local community, how they coped with the lockdown and what's coming up when they [...]
Local Life welcomed Robert Naylor-Stables, current Play Director at one of the District's best known amateur dramatic societies. Rob Pearman asked him to tell us what they've achieved over the past 75 years, what they see as their contribution to the local community, how they coped with the lockdown and what's coming up when they [...]
Celebrating 70 years since its foundation, St Albans Musical Theatre Company can’t wait for the lockdown to be eased so they can get back on stage. Choreographer and performer Elise Betts tells Rob Pearman what SAMTC does, why and how – plus how you can join them whatever your skill or aspiration. The first new [...]
Celebrating 70 years since its foundation, St Albans Musical Theatre Company can’t wait for the lockdown to be eased so they can get back on stage. Choreographer and performer Elise Betts tells Rob Pearman what SAMTC does, why and how – plus how you can join them whatever your skill or aspiration. The first new [...]
In this second special programme looking back at 2020 Rob Pearman and various Radio Verulam presenters speak to residents of local villages including Redbourn, Sandridge, Wheathampstead and Kimpton. In each case local residents organised themselves to help and support one another and tell their very positive stories.
Now it's open, now it's closed, now it's open again! Head Guide Stephen de Silva tells Local Life presenter Rob Pearman where things now stand for St Albans Cathedral - open for private visits and for safely guided tours, some services streamed and others ready to welcome a smaller number of participants than usual - [...]
Now it's open, now it's closed, now it's open again! Head Guide Stephen de Silva tells Local Life presenter Rob Pearman where things now stand for St Albans Cathedral - open for private visits and for safely guided tours, some services streamed and others ready to welcome a smaller number of participants than usual - [...]
Head Guide Stephen de Silva tells Rob Pearman how the Cathedral coped with the lockdown and what it can now offer visitors in a Covid-compliant environment. Interior and exterior visits can both be booked in advance - and the choir is back in action for regular services!
To celebrate the 175th anniversary of St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society (also known as SAHAAS or Arc & Arc), here again is an interview with the Society's President, Sandy Walkington, first broadcast on Local Life a couple of years ago. As well as plenty about the Society, this conversation with Rob Pearman [...]
Head Guide Stephen de Silva tells Rob Pearman how the Cathedral coped with the lockdown and what it can now offer visitors in a Covid-compliant environment. Interior and exterior visits can both be booked in advance - and the choir is back in action for regular services!
To celebrate the 175th anniversary of St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society (also known as SAHAAS or Arc & Arc), here again is an interview with the Society's President, Sandy Walkington, first broadcast on Local Life a couple of years ago. As well as plenty about the Society, this conversation with Rob Pearman [...]
After a lifetime working on stage, on TV and on radio as an actor, director and producer, local St Abans resident Jenny Lee chats with Rob Pearman about how it all began and then how it just kept on going...
After a lifetime working on stage, on TV and on radio as an actor, director and producer, local St Abans resident Jenny Lee chats with Rob Pearman about how it all began and then how it just kept on going...
Publishing Manager for Harpenden-based publisher Oldcastle Books, Clare Quinliven, tells Rob Pearman about her work and how she got into the publishing business. Oldcastle Books has several imprints including the award-winning No Exit Press.
Publishing Manager for Harpenden-based publisher Oldcastle Books, Clare Quinliven, tells Rob Pearman about her work and how she got into the publishing business. Oldcastle Books has several imprints including the award-winning No Exit Press.
Local writer and teacher Clare Hobba tells Rob Pearman why she wanted to talk about Man Booker 2018 prize winner 'Milkman' by Anna Burns.
Local writer and teacher Clare Hobba tells Rob Pearman why she wanted to talk about Man Booker 2018 prize winner 'Milkman' by Anna Burns.
Rob Pearman tells regular reviewer Debbie Heath why he chose George Saunders' Man Booker prize winning novel 'Lincoln in the Bardo' for this edition in the series 'Talking about Books and Audiobooks'
Rob Pearman tells regular reviewer Debbie Heath why he chose George Saunders' Man Booker prize winning novel 'Lincoln in the Bardo' for this edition in the series 'Talking about Books and Audiobooks'
He lives locally but he reports and commentates on football matches played around the world. Dominic Johnson gives an insider's view of working in one of the world's favourite sports and tells Rob Pearman how he built his career.
He lives locally but he reports and commentates on football matches played around the world. Dominic Johnson gives an insider's view of working in one of the world's favourite sports and tells Rob Pearman how he built his career.
Local Life - Ver Poets - Poetry & Prose from writers in St Albans
In the second of two conversations, Terry Jones, Anna Avebury and Chris Delaney tell Rob Pearman about Ver Poets, who it is for, how it operates and about the annual competitions including the open event which welcomes non-members as well as members to submit entries. Once again, all three read poems of their choice. For [...]
Local Life - Ver Poets - Poetry & Prose from writers in St Albans
In the first of two conversations, Ver Poets Terry Jones, Anna Avebury and Chris Delaney tell Rob Pearman how and why they became poets, what poetry means to them and why being a poet is open to anyone who is ready to commit to both inspiration and perspiration. All three read poems of their choice. [...]
In the second of two conversations, Terry Jones, Anna Avebury and Chris Delaney tell Rob Pearman about Ver Poets, who it is for, how it operates and about the annual competitions including the open event which welcomes non-members as well as members to submit entries. Once again, all three read poems of their choice. For [...]
In the first of two conversations, Ver Poets Terry Jones, Anna Avebury and Chris Delaney tell Rob Pearman how and why they became poets, what poetry means to them and why being a poet is open to anyone who is ready to commit to both inspiration and perspiration. All three read poems of their choice. [...]
Val Page introduces Rob Pearman to the work of prolific Scottish writer Peter May. The Lewis Man begins with the discovery of a body buried in the peat....
Val Page introduces Rob Pearman to the work of prolific Scottish writer Peter May. The Lewis Man begins with the discovery of a body buried in the peat....
Local author of fiction for children, Camilla Chester, discusses the first of Hilary Mantel's planned trilogy about Thomas Cromwell with Local Life host Rob Pearman.
In the first of what is planned as a regular quarterly chat with Rob Pearman on Local Life, Helen Burridge (Manager of St Albans BID) looks at some of the challenges and opportunities facing local retailers.
Local author of fiction for children, Camilla Chester, discusses the first of Hilary Mantel's planned trilogy about Thomas Cromwell with Local Life host Rob Pearman.
In the first of what is planned as a regular quarterly chat with Rob Pearman on Local Life, Helen Burridge (Manager of St Albans BID) looks at some of the challenges and opportunities facing local retailers.
Martine Croxall talks about her work as a BBC Television News journalist and presenter as well as her career path from local radio to national television. Fortunately for Local Life host Rob Pearman, Martine lives in St Albans and so was able to join him in the studio.
Martine Croxall talks about her work as a BBC Television News journalist and presenter as well as her career path from local radio to national television. Fortunately for Local Life host Rob Pearman, Martine lives in St Albans and so was able to join him in the studio.
Regular reviewer, Debbie Heath, tells Rob Pearman why she recommends Gail Honeyman's first novel 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' (with excerpts from the audiobook).
Regular reviewer, Debbie Heath, tells Rob Pearman why she recommends Gail Honeyman's first novel 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' (with excerpts from the audiobook).
Helen Burridge, Manager of St Albans Business Improvement District (BID), tells Rob Pearman how this organisation is working on behalf of all the businesses in the BID area to maximise the number of consumers and the amount they spend in the City centre, thereby also benefiting the City as a whole. Helen also describes her [...]
Helen Burridge, Manager of St Albans Business Improvement District (BID), tells Rob Pearman how this organisation is working on behalf of all the businesses in the BID area to maximise the number of consumers and the amount they spend in the City centre, thereby also benefiting the City as a whole. Helen also describes her [...]
Jo Carter, CEO of Herts Vision Loss, explains to Rob Pearman the role and operation of this County-wide charity working with and for those local people with visual impairment.
Jo Carter, CEO of Herts Vision Loss, explains to Rob Pearman the role and operation of this County-wide charity working with and for those local people with visual impairment.
Debbie Heath chose Daphne du Maurier's famous novel 'Rebecca' as a topic for this series of conversations because it has become a favourite, not least owing to its intricate language and structure. Rob Pearman was glad to have been reminded about this writer's great skill, especially when he realised that he had never actually read [...]
Debbie Heath chose Daphne du Maurier's famous novel 'Rebecca' as a topic for this series of conversations because it has become a favourite, not least owing to its intricate language and structure. Rob Pearman was glad to have been reminded about this writer's great skill, especially when he realised that he had never actually read [...]
Sue Shanahan, Senior Trading Standards Officer, explains to Rob Pearman the tricks that scammers get up to online, on the phone and in print - how to spot them and what to do when you encounter them. Scamming is easier than robbing a bank!
Sue Shanahan, Senior Trading Standards Officer, explains to Rob Pearman the tricks that scammers get up to online, on the phone and in print - how to spot them and what to do when you encounter them. Scamming is easier than robbing a bank!
At the start of a new year of interviews with local people, Rob Pearman takes a look back at some of his favourite extracts from around 30 interviews recorded for Local Life over the past 12 months - with topics ranging from fostering to refugees, from homelesness to mental health, and much more including some musical [...]